Pulling a travel trailer

[crawdad]

I've got a travel trailer that weighs around 5500-6000 lbs. The other day I pulled it to a hunting lease in another state about 275 miles away. I had heard that I shouldn't pull in overdrive so I was pulling it in Drive. The road was hilly, but not all that bad. I noticed the truck getting pretty hot, especially on the hills. Seems like it was up around 210, sometimes higher, but it never did get in the Red. The engine RPM's were up there pretty high in Drive and I figured that might have something to do with it running so warm so I dropped it into Overdrive and the temp. went back down to just above normal. It normally runs right around 180 degrees. This truck was not originally set up for towing, but since I only pull the trailer about two or three times a year, I didn't think it would hurt it. My question is what can I do to keep the temp in the normal range and what can I do to the truck to make it a little more capable of pulling a load. I've already put a tranny cooler on it. I'm not sure what gears I have in the rearend, but I would suspect they're pretty high. Any comments appreciated.

[chev74]

did you get the biggest tranny cooler they had?

can you get #s from your rear end so you can find out exactly what you have back there?

[spudz]

210 ECT?? or tranny temp? 210 is fine for ECT.....thats not hot at all. You better pull it in drive.. or you will be replacing that transmission.. Its going to run a little hotter because your working it harder.. its fine... Just don't pull it in overdrive.....ever lol

[old Rusty C10]

as long as you arent in the red youre fine the trans cooler is a good idea

[crawdad]

Originally Posted by chev74

can you get #s from your rear end so you can find out exactly what you have back there?

I'll climb under the truck tomorrow and see if I can find a tag on the rear end anywhere.

[crawdad]

Originally Posted by spudz

210 ECT?? or tranny temp? 210 is fine for ECT.....thats not hot at all. You better pull it in drive.. or you will be replacing that transmission.. Its going to run a little hotter because your working it harder.. its fine... Just don't pull it in overdrive.....ever lol

Yes, I'm talking about engine coolant temperature. It was between the 210 mark and the Red "Hot" zone. It didn't get any hotter than that. The tranny is the 700R4 BTW. I knew I should pull it in drive instead of OD, but I was getting concerned about the climbing temp.
BTW spudz, I just came through your neck of the woods the other day. I was coming from Charleston on 78 on my way back to GA.

[spudz]

Originally Posted by crawdad

BTW spudz, I just came through your neck of the woods the other day. I was coming from Charleston on 78 on my way back to GA.

You passed my house then cause I live right on 78 lol.. Ya passed a yellow house on right with a **** load of trucks and mustangs in the front yard in branchville?? lol

BTW you might want to make sure your clutch fan is ok... Maybe consider an electric fan??? It shouldn't run hot with a little more RPM...

[crawdad]

Originally Posted by spudz

You passed my house then cause I live right on 78 lol.. Ya passed a yellow house on right with a **** load of trucks and mustangs in the front yard in branchville?? lol

BTW you might want to make sure your clutch fan is ok... Maybe consider an electric fan??? It shouldn't run hot with a little more RPM...

I think the fan is ok, but I'll check it out to be sure. Thanks.

[68K20 x Drill]

Consider the same engine in an 88 Camaro does not switch on the fan till 230F, you are fine. Water Wetter seems to help. if you had a Trans Temp gauge, I bet it would have up when you shifted to OD.

[crawdad]

Originally Posted by 68K20 x Drill

Consider the same engine in an 88 Camaro does not switch on the fan till 230F, you are fine. Water Wetter seems to help. if you had a Trans Temp gauge, I bet it would have up when you shifted to OD.

Yea, I guess I was so used to the temp being around the 180 degree range that when it started rising like that I got a little concerned (maybe too concerned). I've heard of the water wetter and I think I might give it a try just to see what happens. Thanks.

[crossy]

Originally Posted by crawdad

I'll climb under the truck tomorrow and see if I can find a tag on the rear end anywhere.

no tag, there is a three letter code stamped in the right side tube usually dead on top, but sometimes more on front of tube. Like KTA, TUB, TGA etc. use a file and flashlight.